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Salanis
Salanis SuperDork
7/21/11 12:06 a.m.

This is more a venting thing at the moment. I'm rather nervous.

My grandfather left his home in Granite Bay (NE of Sacramento) around noon today heading for a hotel in Palo Alto near Stanford University. My grandmother's memorial service is tomorrow, and he wanted to arrive the night before. It should be about a 3 hour drive. 10 hours later, he hasn't checked in with his hotel, and he has not been answering his phone. I just finished making a missing person report with CHP and his local Sherrif's department.

Police have no reports of his car being in an accident or him being taken to a hospital.

I think he's okay. Probably just lost somewhere and misplaced his phone. He's old, nearly deaf, and diabetic, but has essentially all of his wits about him.

Most likely he screwed something up with his new GPS and is headed somewhere out in BFE. Worst realistic scenario is that he's had a diabetic low somewhere.

Again, dunno that anyone can offer anything or if I'm asking for anything. Just kind of needing to vent in a familiar arena.

Graefin10
Graefin10 Reader
7/21/11 12:12 a.m.

In reply to Salanis:

Hey Sal., I hate to hear that. Hopefully he'll show up tomorrow. Keep us posted if you will.

Salanis
Salanis SuperDork
7/21/11 12:22 a.m.

:Sigh:

I will. This is my normal place to vent.

I would honestly bet that he told the GPS to navigate to my great aunt's house in Austin (one of the few places programmed into it), and that he got to Nevada before he realized he was headed the wrong way, and is staying the night in a hotel somewhere there now.

Tom Heath
Tom Heath Web Manager
7/21/11 12:55 a.m.

Sorry to hear of it, I hope it turns out OK. Keep yer chin up!

jrw1621
jrw1621 SuperDork
7/21/11 5:46 a.m.

My thoughts and prayers are with you.

Don49
Don49 Reader
7/21/11 6:07 a.m.

If his phone is turned on, the phone company may be able to locate it. It's worth a call to see if they can help you. Good luck!

FlightService
FlightService HalfDork
7/21/11 6:09 a.m.

If the phone has a battery in it, the phone company can trace it, if it is a newer model. They will only give the information to emergency services.

Good Luck, prayers are with you.

EastCoastMojo
EastCoastMojo GRM+ Memberand SuperDork
7/21/11 6:58 a.m.

My thoughts are with you. Hopefully everything is OK.

tuna55
tuna55 SuperDork
7/21/11 7:02 a.m.

Anyone close that can try retracing his path just to make sure he isn't stuck with something stupid like a flat tire on the side of the road?

JoeyM
JoeyM GRM+ Memberand SuperDork
7/21/11 7:10 a.m.

Keep us posted

4cylndrfury
4cylndrfury SuperDork
7/21/11 7:27 a.m.

I hope its just something silly like the GPS thing. I know its making ya crazy, but try to stay positive. Let us know if you hear anything.

Duke
Duke SuperDork
7/21/11 7:40 a.m.

Best of luck and modern technology to you and your family. Here's hoping for a safe and happy conclusion.

Salanis
Salanis SuperDork
7/21/11 9:50 a.m.

Found him. He was just staying at a different hotel last night than he has reservations for tonight, and he didn't communicate that with everyone else in the family. The lady who handles his finances had the information.

triumph5
triumph5 SuperDork
7/21/11 10:01 a.m.

I hate to say this, but maybe it's time for some sort of tracking device to be installed on his car--like the ones parents use to monitor a teenager's usage of the family car. His overall mental health has just taken a huge hit--this might be cheap insurance for you and your silbings peace of mind.

Salanis
Salanis SuperDork
7/21/11 10:08 a.m.

Yeah. I called AT&T about tracking his phone. There's a feature that can be activated with his approval. I think we're going to do that, especially since he's planning to make a road trip across the country at the end of the month.

triumph5
triumph5 SuperDork
7/21/11 10:10 a.m.

Yes, with a x-country trip coming up, yeah, get it activated.

mad_machine
mad_machine GRM+ Memberand SuperDork
7/21/11 10:16 a.m.

heck.. if I was going on a X cross country trip.. I might want it activated for myself.

Glad you found your grandfather safe and sound though. I could not imagine the worry

Salanis
Salanis SuperDork
7/21/11 10:29 a.m.

I think I'm going to lodge a complaint with the management of the hotel that he was supposed to be staying in. I spoke to someone at the desk there last night and asked the guy if he could give me a list of some other hotels in the area where my grandfather might have checked in at. He wasn't able to tell me any.

I called several other hotels that came up when I searched "hotels near Stanfor" and "Palo Alto hotels". But the one he ended up at did not show up on those searches.

Woody
Woody GRM+ Memberand SuperDork
7/21/11 10:29 a.m.

Glad he's okay!

FYI, GPS has taken me on some SCARY shortcuts in that area, one time sending me down Old Priest Grade. If you get a chance, discuss the route with him before he makes the return trip.

mad_machine
mad_machine GRM+ Memberand SuperDork
7/21/11 10:33 a.m.

GPS has sent me through some scary parts of DC and Baltimore too... at 2am.

triumph5
triumph5 SuperDork
7/21/11 10:58 a.m.

I think I'd sit down with him and have a google earth street view with him at the areas where he's planning on stopping each night. And I would try to get across a planned stop each night, not stop when you feel like it. BUT, if he does, he HAS to call you where he is everynight, or it's missing person's report time.

It's hard. No doubt about it; he knows it, too. Thankfully I didn't have to do that too much with my parents.

Good luck, make it a "hey dad, let's see what you'll see!" night.

Salanis
Salanis SuperDork
7/21/11 11:00 a.m.
Datsun1500 wrote: Why complain to that hotel? It is not their job to know where someone might be. They have no responsibility in this at all.... wow.

I didn't expect them to know where he was. I would expect them to know what other hotels are on the same street and be willing to offer some helpful information in an emergency.

Salanis
Salanis SuperDork
7/21/11 11:50 a.m.
triumph5 wrote: I think I'd sit down with him and have a google earth street view with him at the areas where he's planning on stopping each night. And I would try to get across a planned stop each night, not stop when you feel like it. BUT, if he does, he HAS to call you where he is everynight, or it's missing person's report time.

That's a good idea. I'll try to do that. His plan is to go from here, near Sacramento, to Austin, stay for a couple weeks, then go on to DC and stay for a month or so. I think him driving is the wrong plan. I think flying or train are much better ideas, but he's dead set that he wants to take the car.

He'd like me to go with him, and as much as I love him, I've got to draw the line somewhere for my sanity. I could not take sharing a car with my grandfather for that long (I figure it will take him 4 days to get to Austin). I could handle sharing a plane or train with him, but with a car and sleeping in hotels, I don't have the opportunity to get away and have time to myself. Even if I were to drive with him, I'd only be able to go as far as Austin with him.

4cylndrfury
4cylndrfury SuperDork
7/21/11 12:06 p.m.

Super glad he turned up in one piece! Im happy there is a good ending to the story. I hope he understands that you just want to know hes ok and that for long trips like that, checking in with family is important no matter your age.

spitfirebill
spitfirebill SuperDork
7/21/11 12:27 p.m.
Salanis wrote: Yeah. I called AT&T about tracking his phone. There's a feature that can be activated with his approval. I think we're going to do that, especially since he's planning to make a road trip across the country at the end of the month.

Are you going to tell him this?

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